Thermal, Calif. – October 29, 2026 – The first two overall champions of the 2026 USHJA Amateur Hunter Championships – West, presented by Frank & Eileen, were crowned on Thursday, October 29, during National Sunshine Series 1 at Desert International Horse Park.
By the conclusion of the championships on Friday, four new overall champions will have been named across the 2’6”, 3’, 3’3” and 3’6” divisions. Taking home the first of those overall titles were Melissa Sklenar and Poptart in the 3’6” Amateur Owner Hunters and Maya Varga and Watermark in the 3’ Adult Amateur Hunters.
“This went way better than I thought it was going to, to be honest with you! This I could not have imagined in a million years,” said Sklenar.
Before earning the overall 3’6” championship, Sklenar piloted Poptart to two second-place finishes, and ultimately the division championship, in the 3’6” Amateur Owner Hunters 36 & Over.
“I did my first round and thought it went pretty well. I was second; I was obviously thrilled with that,” said Sklenar, who hails from Stevenson Ranch, California. “I did my handy round and got some of the best scores I’ve ever had and literally burst into tears. That was super, super exciting. He was perfect for the under saddle, and when I heard that I’d won the overall 36 and over, I was floored. Then, for the overall, again, the tears started streaming. I am over the moon now, and it was so unexpected.”
Sklenar, who trains with Michelle Morris, just purchased Poptart earlier this year, but she and the 8-year-old Selle Français gelding meshed quickly, moving up to the 3’6” just a few months ago.
“Michelle Morris has just been such a fantastic support for me over the last, gosh, five years,” said Sklenar, who, outside of horses, is the director of sales for an event management company. “I had a really wonderful horse that I lost unexpectedly. I then went and bought another horse that didn’t quite work out. So, when I got Poptart – I mean from the very get-go – she was super supportive about it. We worked really hard over the last, what, six months that I’ve had him to try to bring him along because he hadn’t done a whole lot before I got him. I’m just super, super grateful for everything that she’s done.”
Earning the division championship in the 3’6” Amateur Owner Hunters 18-35 were Pearl Theodosakis and Comtess.
For Varga, her overall win in the 3’ Adult Amateur Hunters was extra special with Watermark.
“I’m going to cry. [Watermark] came in January of last year, and my dad was the one who named him Watermark,” said Varga of the 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding known as “Special” in the barn. “My dad passed away in June of last year. So, for me, he really is my dad watching over me, and I’ve been able to form an unbelievable relationship with him. I’m so lucky to be supported by the team at Storia Staples with him.”
Varga and Watermark picked up the Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 division championship after winning both of the over fences classes and taking second in the under saddle.
“As a working amateur, I think this was a really special day, and I loved the format,” concluded Varga. “It felt very special for every round.”
Also earning championships in the Adult Hunters were Amy Brubaker and Tahoe in the Adult Amateur Hunters 50 & Over and Lakshmi Jeyanandarajan and Dauphin in the Adult Amateur Hunters 18-35.
For full results from all of the day’s USHJA Amateur Hunter Championship competition, click here.
Held for the first time in 2025, the USHJA Amateur Hunter Championships – West, presented by Frank & Eileen, give amateur hunter riders a national final spanning the 2’6” Low Adult Amateur Hunters through the 3’6” Amateur Owner Hunters. Each championship features three phases including a classic round, a handy and an under saddle. Riders qualify for the championship by earning champion or reserve at a USEF-licensed Channel I or Channel II competition, or if their horse ranks in the top 10 of their Zone Horse of the Year standings. For more information about the USHJA Amateur Hunter Championships, visit ushja.org/AmateurChampionships. To learn more about all competition at Desert International Horse Park, visit deserthorsepark.com.